Planet founder is back

Earl — pictured with Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the stars who backed Planet
Hollywood — bought the US-based Buca di Beppo chain in 2008. He will put the
restaurants into Village hotel sites, with the first opening in Newcastle
this week. The Wirral, Swindon and Blackpool will follow.

New role for Amazon chief

The former boss of Amazon UK is joining Scottish Equity Partners, the venture
capital firm best-known for backing technology companies including
chipmakers Wolfson Microelectronics and CSR. Brian McBride, who previously
ran T-Mobile UK, will become a venture partner at SEP in April.

Last month the firm reported a £620m exit from BioVex, a cancer therapy
business, which was acquired by Amgen, an American biotech firm.